AN ACCOUNT OF THE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. 293 



assistants were paid by the Government they could not spend any 

 time in working upon collections belonging to a private organization. 

 Nevertheless, he expressed an intention not to disturb the collections 

 of the Institute more than should be really necessary in working out 

 those of the Government, and to watch over them as far as possible. 



A few months later, in a correspondence relative to the " Ontona- 

 gon" copper bowlder now in the National Museum, the Commissioner 

 of Patents took the same ground, and held also that he had entire 

 control over the room in which the property of the Institute was 

 deposited. 



At the end of 1843, therefore, the National Institute found itself 

 bereft of the control of the Government collections, without funds, 

 except the membership dues, which were much in arrears, and without 

 quarters for its large and rapidly accumulating collections. 



"The real cause of the decline of the National Institute," writes Dr. 

 Goode,' "was simple enough. Failing to secure grants of money from 

 Congress, the society was overwhelmed by the deluge of museum 

 materials, which in response to its enthusiastic and widely circulated 

 appeals came to it from all (quarters of the world. The annual receipts 

 from the assessment of members were insuflBcient to pay for the care 

 of the collections, and although by virtue of the long term of its char- 

 ter the collections were kept together until 1861, there was little science 

 and little energy manifested in this administration." 



While the events we have mentioned were taking place extended dis- 

 cussions were going on in Congress, and in the country generally, 

 regarding the proper disposition to be made of the bequest of James 

 Smithson. It is unnecessary in the present connection to consider the 

 various views put forth, further than to remark that several schemes 

 included provisions for museums of natural history and the arts. 



The act of incorporation of the Smithsonian Institution, passed 

 August 10, 184G, provided that the Eegents, having selected a proper 

 site, "shall cause to be erected a suitable building, of plain and durable 

 materials and structure, without unnecessary ornament, and of sufiti- 

 cient size, and with suitable rooms or halls for the reception and 

 arrangement, upon a liberal scale, of objects of natural history, includ- 

 ing a geological and mineralogical cabinet; also, a chemical labora- 

 tory, a library, a gallery of art, and the necessary lecture rooms." 



It is further provided that the Eegents "may so locate said building, 

 if they shall deem it proper, as in appearance to form a wing to the 

 Patent Office building, and may so connect the same with the present 

 hall of said Patent OflBce building, containing the National Cabinet of 

 Curiosities,^ as to constitute the said hall, in whole or in part, the 

 deposit for the cabinet of the said Institution, if they deem it expedient 

 to do so." This plan was not adopted. 



Section 6 of the same act provides that " in proportion as suitable 



' Goode. " Genesis of the United States National Museum/' page 328. 

 "^ See Goode, op. cit., page 301. 



